Strasbourg state positive ambitions

RC Strasbourg coach Jacky Duguépéroux insists his side will not be on the defensive as they look to hold on to a 2-0 lead against PFC Litex Lovech and reach the last 16 of the UEFA Cup.

Miserable season
The Alsace side are unbeaten in four games in all competitions - their best run since the start of a miserable Ligue 1 season - but the coach says that he knows better than to play for a draw in Lovech. "We don't know how to hold on to a result," said Duguépéroux, who will welcome back Karim Haggui from injury.

League focus
"We'll see which team is the most motivated and if we still have our lead at half-time, we'll decide what to do," added the coach. However, Strasbourg captain Guillaume Lacour was more concerned about the upcoming Ligue 1 game against ES Troyes Aube Champagne. "It will be the key game of our week even if we do advance in the UEFA Cup," he said.

Defensive concerns
Meanwhile Litex coach Ljupko Petrović has been forced to make changes after defenders Mihail Venkov, Robert Popov and Frenchman Jean-Philippe Caillet were all ruled out through injury. Bosnia-Herzegovnian international Džemal Berberović should step in at right-back with Rossen Kirilov moving to cover in the centre of defence.

Match plan
Elsewhere, 18-year-old striker Ivelin Popov may be preferred to Brazilian Sandrinho. "If we manage to score first and play solidly in defence, then we would have a chance to be get back in the tie," said Petrović. "But it is more important that we play some good football and show that we have deserved our place in the knockout stages."